US Patent 7340803 Rapid attachment buckle

A buckle for capturing and releasably retaining an end tab of a flexible strap wherein the flexible strap has a substantially uniform width and thickness and an end tab of increased thickness. The buckle includes a base, and parallel side walls, which extend upwardly from and cooperate with the base to define an open-ended receiving channel having an entry end and an exit end. Flanges are spaced vertically from the base and extend inwardly in cantilever fashion from the side walls to define an opening-ended slot communicating with and extending along the length of the receiving channel. The slot is configured and dimensioned to accommodate longitudinal pinching and lateral insertion of the strap into the receiving channel. The flanges have undersides configured to accommodate receipt of the end tab in the receiving channel via the entry end, and to releasably retain and prevent withdrawal of the end tab from the receiving channel via the exit end.